Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-05-19

love VINO lOFeu me- ana VINO ueteSted
him.
My patience was worn out at last,
for the fellow laughed at all our offers
and threatened loudly.
81 knelt to old Abraham, but he
said:
My promise to my dead brother is
before all else.
Il went TO the rabbis; they said that
Abraham was right. Then j implored
Miriam to fly with met steal away
at night and wed me in some distant
land, whittier | should bear her; and
though she wept in my arms, she only
answered:
&" ] cannot disobey my father. /
love thee-thee only; but ] will not
bring upon my head the curse Of dis
honoring my parents.
Thus matters stood the fourth year
of our love and our sorrow, when the
birthday Of Miriam's mother drew
near, and it was also the anniversary
Of the marriage Of her parents. On
this day there was to be feast, and
gifts would be given, and addresses
made. and songs sung, and there
would be music Of all kinds.
miriam desired to surprise her
mother with gift. ! had myself pre-
pared "A necklace of jewels of great
value. Silver and gold would be given
in profusion Something that her
mother did not possess, something
rare and strange was what Miriam
searched for, and in vain, for long
while, SO that it was the eve OF the day
of the feast, and still she was not pro-
yided with her gift. What happened
that evening | have from others.
miriam had been in her fathers
carriage in the city, and had dcspaired
Of finding anywhere what She sought
She had Just resolved to send me the
note we had agreed upon, if the days
search ended in this way, that might
bring her % beautiful chain ! had
shown her one day, when the gate of
the garden Of her fathers house open
ed, and a man entered "a man bowed
with the burden of many winters.
Ills head was covered with a skull
cap from which hung locks of snow
white hair; his white beard fell below
his waist, and in his hand he bore a
small box.
AS he passed between the banana
trees he leant upon his staff and seem
ed 20 move more fccbIy Miriam. who
had been taught to respect age, be-
Loving that this was some friend of
her parents perhaps Of her grand
parents-aro and opened the door
and as he entered, set a chair for him
and stood before him waiting for his
bidding.
The old patriarch sunk into the
chair she placed, and bowed his head
YEARLY upon his staff
"The way is long, and the path
steep, and my Years are many, ne
said; and | have come in haste lest |
should be too late. Thou art Miriam,
the daughter of Abraham, the maker
Of firearms, whose great wealth is
known in the land, and whom men re-
spect so greatly.
"a i am Miriam, replied the girl;
and what thou saycst of my father all
say
~ have been sent to thee by Reu-
ben, the ieweler said the old man. i
have a possession which, for want of
gold | must sell. 1t is rare mosaic
such as cannot be found here
brought it from afar Now misfortune
has befallen me, and I must sell it,
See is it not wonderful
He opened the box as he spoke, and
laid upon Miriam's knee a beautiful
box, suitable for jewels, on which was
wonderful picture in MOSAIC work of
the rarcst Kind birds, flowers, fruit,
human figures, all so wonderfully done
that Miriam exclaimed with rapture:
Name your price. Ii il is within
my means, | will give it. She said.
The old man hent his head upon
his staff For moment he was silent.
Then he slowly shook his head.
4 cannoteNpect fair price he
said, but / win give it 80 you for 50
much
lie named very large sum, but
Miriam had ample means. In mo-
ment more she had cmptiod her purse
upon the table and counted out the
broad gold pieces.
And thank thee also, good father,
for bringing the beautiful MOSAIC, she
said.
.The old man gathered up the
pieces. They chnked together in his
trembling hands.
... 1T is well for mo that | have made
this sale. he said. We'll for me; and
now / have a favor to ask. That thou
win receive a Gift from me. / am un-
der vow and an obligation TO hcstow
n little gift upon the one to whom !
sell this mosaic 1t is but q little ring
Of chased gold, but perhaps thou viii
IpfuSs fla take IL from a poor man like